Pictured above – in triplicate no less!- is well-known Prof. Hans Schattle of the Political Science Dept. of Yonsei University, one of South Korea’s best and always one of Asia’s top-rated universities. The picture was snapped during a recent Wednesday night class in the Life Science Building on the gorgeous Loyola Marymount University campus. The course is titled ‘Introduction to the Media and Politics of Asia’, taught by Prof. Tom Plate, the founder of Asia Media International.
This session on the South Korean news media and its oft-testy relations with the government of the Republic of Korea was conducted – live! – via Skype to Seoul (around 7:30 pm Los Angeles time/11:30 am Thursday Seoul time). The session featuring the analysis of Dr. Schattle ran about 90 minutes, and exploited the special instructional technological capabilities of LMU’s special Life Sciences Building (LSB 330), devoted to courses in biology or chemistry.
‘Intro to Asia Media’ is the first social science course to be taught in LSB 330, a room with a capacity for 30 students that is chockablock with the latest instructional Internet technology. The courtesy for the unusual use of the room was granted by S.W. Tina Choe, Ph.D., professor of chemistry in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and dean of the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering (She is the 11th dean of the college and the first woman to hold that post). The pioneering room usage was furthered by the supportive enthusiasm of another leading LMU Dean: Robbin Crabtree, head of Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts. Commented Prof. Plate, “Only great, forward-looking deans can make a truly creative and experimental educational environment possible.” Next semester, another innovative course – “The Future of the United Nations” – will be taught in this advanced room.
The effort to employ the latest educational technology for instructional purposes is a hallmark of LMU’s Educational Technology Services, headed by its Director, Crista Copp, and LMU’s Asia Media Center, which publishes this website and which seeks to be an edgy locus of innovative learning. Prof. Plate has taught live Skype courses or seminars not only with Yonsei but also with Fudan University (Shanghai), United Arab University (Al Ain, UAE) and Kyoto University) Japan. Particularly for courses with international content, the linking of students in real time in courses or seminars with universities from different countries would seem an obvious step forward into our technological future. For its part, the LMU Asia Media Center, located on Los Angeles, emphasizes cooperative courses and seminars via live interactive Skype with Asian-based universities.
Interested universities should feel invited to contact Tom Plate directly (tplate@lmu.edu).